Second Chance by Shinedown

Album: The Sound of Madness (2008)

Charted: 74 7

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"Second Chance" is Shinedown's most popular song, and a very personal one for their lead singer, Brent Smith. Raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, he formed a band there in the late '90s called Dreve that got a deal with Atlantic Records. They were dropped by the label before releasing any music, but Smith got a second chance when Steve Robertson, an A&R guy at Atlantic, signed him to a development deal and helped him form Shinedown.

Smith had to take that chance and run with it, which he did. "It's about throwing caution to the wind and going after what you truly want in life," he said of the song.
The song got some early exposure when it was used in the season 2 promotional video for the science fiction TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
The song is part of Shinedown's third album, The Sound Of Madness, released in 2008. Their first two albums did well, with songs like "45" and "Save Me" doing well on rock radio, their stronghold. "Second Chance" took them to a new level, and they managed to stay there. It was their third #1 hit on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, following "Save Me" and "Devour." They remained regulars at the top of that chart for years, landing their 20th #1 in 2025 with "Dance, Kid, Dance."
Brent Smith pulls out an astronomy metaphor in the lines:

I just saw Halley's comet, she waved
Said, "Why you always runnin' in place?"

Halley's comet comes back around about every 76 years; it last showed up in 1986 and will return in 2061. The lyric indicates how Smith was stagnating back home in Knoxville, so much so that when the comet returned, she chided him for still doing the same old thing.

Billie Eilish built a song around this metaphor in her 2021 track "Halley's Comet."
There was a specific conversation Brent Smith had with his mom that led him to write this song. He was at the family home in Knoxville, getting set to head to Los Angeles as part of his development deal with Atlantic Records. His band Dreve had been dropped by the label, and his parents feared it would happen again. He was having breakfast with his mom when they talked about it.

"I remember her looking at me and saying, 'You're my son and I love you... and I want you to get the hell out of here. There's nothing for you here,'" Smith said on the Lipps Service podcast. "My mom and dad never looked at it like I was running away. They always looked at it like I was running towards something. That was my second chance. That's where that song came from. It was my memory of that moment sitting at that table with her. The dynamic of that lyric, 'Sometimes goodbye is a second chance,' that's not a negative thing. The goodbye is, even though you didn't necessarily ask for it, in your heart you needed the permission. I kind of needed their permission to do it, and that's where that song comes from."
This is one of those songs that is very personal to the writer but relates to many listeners who are faced with the choice of leaving home or staying put. In the video we see a teenage girl who hops a bus to pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer. It was directed by Ryan Smith and stars Alanna Massey. Smith also worked on the videos for "1985" by Bowling For Soup and "I'm Just A Kid" by Simple Plan.
Brent Smith wrote this song with Dave Bassett, his songwriting partner on most of The Sound Of Madness album. Bassett is an outside writer with an impressive track record. Other songs he wrote include "Ex's & Oh's" by Elle King and "Break The Spell" by Daughtry.

Around this time, Shinedown's guitarist Jasin Todd was replaced by Zach Myers, and bass player Brad Stewart was replaced by Eric Bass (yes, Eric Bass is a bass player, but he pronounces it like the fish). Myers and Bass started doing more of the songwriting moving forward, although Bassett made major contributions to their next album, Amaryllis in 2012.
Rob Cavallo produced this song along with the rest of The Sound Of Madness album. Cavallo, who has also produced Green Day, My Chemical Romance and Dave Matthews Band, was hired on to produce Shinedown's next album, Amaryllis, as well. By their 2018 album Attention Attention, Shinedown bass player Eric Bass became their producer.
The song has such broad appeal that Shinedown were asked to perform it on the Today show, NBC's morning news program. On the show, host Kathy Lee Gifford took a dig at Brent Smith's weight, saying she thought he was Meat Loaf.

Smith gained a lot of weight in 2008 when he stopped taking cocaine and opiates, and filled the void with alcohol and sugar. His weight and drinking problems got worse until 2012, when he got a trainer and carefully watched what he ate. He lost 70 pounds and got in shape, and a few year later was finally able to quit drinking as well.

Comments: 37

Sad Mama from IllinoisThis song makes me feel like my son is explaining his choice in suicide to me, I lost him 7 years ago to suicide by bullying at 14, a month before his 15th birthday
Timmi Bottoms from Njis most beautiful song ever,i get real emotional when, i here the song every time, it reminds me of when, i lost my son to suicide in 1994
Lindley Sims from Atlanta TexasThis is honestly my favorite song of all time. I love Shinedown!
Hailey from Louisville, KentuckyAs someone who was literally named after this song, I feel a close connection to it. I also have ran away from everything to follow my own career. But also, Im just obsessed wit this sonng in general
Beth I from OhioI love this song! I decided to replace mom and dad with my brother and brother-in-law in my head. This helps me get over the wrongs they did to me and have peace.
Cindy from OhioBrett, this song resignation with my family. It was my brother who left n never looked back. I never new why, until now, thank you, you have no idea, wondering, my poor parents. I've forgiven him, bless you.
T from WisconsinWhen this song first came out, I was 7. The first time hearing it is a memory I think about alot still. There was just a bad incident with a family member (I was abused physically, mentally, and emotionally often, if not daily) and we had to leave right away to go somewhere. During the car ride I was sitting silent in the back trying to be as invisible to everyone as possible after that last incident. Then this song came on. I heard it every word and that is what my 7 year old self needed. I related to it in a way that I knew that one day I would flee the people on my family that hurt me, and that it would hurt then when I did as well as me. This song made me feel like I wasn't alone, and I had felt alone. I had no one. No one to go to. No one to relate to. This song, I dare say, saved my life as a child.
Dawn from Jamestown NyI've heard this song many times, but it never really caught my attention until recently. I was on a motorcycle accident and had to be revived at the scene, then i was flown by helicopter to the trauma unit where they discovered I had a broken neck. I'm lucky to even be here writing this comment. I also got a second chance, and I'm very thankful.
Axel from Mt. Vernon, Ohio"Tell my mother, tell my father, that I've done the best I can" Describes how I tried so hard to please my father and my stepmom, but it never works out. When I finally grow up, I'll finally be free to be me. I can choose to be whatever I want to be, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. This is to those who are going through a hard time, "remember to tell yourself to hang in there, the pain won't last forever, you will make it. I believe in you."
Pat Cleveland from Daphne, Al" I just saw Haley's Comet". Isn't it funny how we see extraordinary things pass by and just wish it would happen for us. I finally realized you can't wait for it, you have to go and get it. That's what I get from it. AWESOME SONG! LOVE IT!
Amber R from Oblong IlFor me! This song reflect on my sobriety as good bye can be a way of going to treatment (rehab), and getting a second chance at life!
I'm sure to many people it's meaning is fogey or different. As for me after Years of hearing it and finally finding a meaning for me it has. Helped me through alot. Thank you Shinedown!!!!
Vicki C from Palm Beach Gardens, FlBrilliant! I cry every time I listen. Story of my life too
Niki from LouisianaI just broke up with my boyfriend last month due to his lying and drinking. I pray for him every day that God restores him. It could be a second chance for him if he decides to take it.
Darla Jones from Mooresville IndianaFirst time I heard it and it became one of my favorite songs of all time. The crescendo gives me goosebumps. The lyrics bring up so much emotion. Glad you pursued your dreams. I didn't. Oh well. Not gonna dwell on it. Anyway. Wonderful song. Thank you.
Robin from Lacrosse Wis. 54603An amazing song. I had an amazing childhood. The best parents, leave it to beaver patents. I was always so sure if myself. On my own right out if high school. Thought I knew everything. Didn't visit my family or home as often as I should have. Now its too late. Parents both passed Alzheimer's. Sold family home. We are all spread out, covid doesn't help.
I had the best life and threw it away. Cherish every moment you have before its too late.
Dakota KlingerI can relate to this song because I had a hard childhood and I finally throw caution to the wind and set out to show the people that always said that I would never amount to anything wrong I have an amazing family and and amazing life so to all those people that ever said that I would never amount to anything look who was wrong I bet you all feel dumb but that’s ok I forgive you
Joseph from Las Vegas, NvI was dealing with some situations with my dad where he wasn't accepting and respecting who I am, so I stopped seeing him and going over to his house. I was pretty much hoping that he would get more education because maybe then he will accept me. Well, now he hasn't reached out to see me or talk to me in like 2 and a half months and it really hurts. So the lyrics really fit my situation and it makes me cry every time I listen to it.
Brie from Salem, Massachusetts I was going through some major difficult times. One night while at pool league, overheard this song and it took root. I left (I should know better than to drink while depressed, only makes shizit ten times worse) to head home. While this song played on a loop, I filled a cup with prescription medications. I contacted the "suicide hotline" (which is not the first time and I'm still ambivalent on how they handle calls, like, don't ask me how I'm doing, is this not obvious?) I ended the call only to have police show up thirty minutes later. I sent this song to my mom, are relationship is very complicated and often times negative. I believe songs like this will have different meanings across the board. For me, "fly and let go of this life to find another" is one of many. I don't tell this story for advice nor empathy. Just how this song effected me, and I'm just now starting to listen to it without the trigger.
Shae from ColoradoThis song reminds me of how I wanted to leave the house live with my friend/sister because their family feels more like family to me. It just reminds trying to fight for myself and they always tell me to quit getting pissed and I yell "I'm not getting mad, you're making me mad." I'm just saying.
Mary O. from Omaha, NeThis song can be interpreted in several ways, depending upon the listener's imagination. I have always wondered if it was about a guy cutting the cord from his parents or a guy contemplating suicide. I never thought of it as a song about taking a big chance on an unlikely career. I like when lyrics make you think. It makes me want to dig deeper to find the writer's real intent.
Zack from Noblesville, InI see it as a chance to change and become better in hope that someone that you love will return. at least that's how I see it.
Zero from Nowhere, NjWell, I like all kinds of music, this was the song that got me into Shinedown and after I got some of their albums I was surprised (in a good way) that alot of their songs are pretty heavy (I'm a metalhead at heart).
Megan from Stevenson, AlThis song is great just to belt out at anytime! :d good song! Love the lyrics.
Rebekah from Seattle, WaThe debate or fact whether this is a "pop" or "rock" song is irrelevant. There is too much egoic posturing regarding songs like this. The bottom line is, it is an emotionally expressive song, one that, when I first heard it, held numerous deeper meanings for me having grown up in an alcoholic, abusive family home. The guy that sings it is able to bring that emotion to life, something John Lennon was famous for, though there is not much to compare between Shinedown and John Lennon except for the emotional expressiveness. It is also about emotional and spiritual freedom and like Ashley from Lemont Furnace said "IT touches me so much."
Staley from Dallas, TxI think it's rock and pop (after all, "pop" is just short for popular, and it was a very successful song). I don't usually like these mopey-sounding, portentous, deep-voiced rock bands, but I like this song a lot. And while it's in a similar style to so many of those songs I don't like (Creed, Lifehouse, etc.), it has a nice, simple message and a great, singable melody.
[p3yt0n} from Somewhere, InSecond Chance and If you only Knew do have a bit of a pop ring in it, but they are mainstream rock. And anyways, who cares? It's a great song. Leave it at that.
Lara from Canton, Nc, NcI just saw Shinedown for the 1st time at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville, NC. Their opening bands were Sore Eyes and Automatic Fire. Everyone was great!!! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and it was my husband's first time ever at a concert now he wants to go to everyone!!! LOL
Josh from Trenton, IlHa good song. Really opens up the F*** you mom and dad i dont want to do what you want me to do, i want to do what i want to do!!
haha love this song
Andy from Tustin, MiThere is no way this song is pop but it is for sure one of there best songs.
Joe from Lincoln, NeVocals are very rock like there Hannah, so there is one rock aspect. You fail, now GTFO.
Jeff from Casa Grande, AzI like the singer's voice. And, I also like the off-beat lyrics. It really makes this band's sound. I have to say that I really like this band, so far. They have wonderful potential. They bring it all together into a powerful ensemble. Well done. Look forward to their future songs.
Kayla from Oklahoma City, OkYeah, um, this is their only "pop" song, and just because the pop stations are posers and want to pretend like their rock, doesn't mean they are a "pop" band. They are definitely mainstream rock. Have you listened to "Devour" or "Sound of Madness", off of the same alblum?
Eugene from Minneapolis, MnWhatchu talkin' about, Hannah. This band here ARE rock radio's staples by far. Shoot, this IS pretty much their first POP "hit" and I don't mean POP chart single either. These people have charted nine consecutive top ten tracks on the Mainstream ROCK charts. If anything, they are leaning towards rock's heritage. Two GOLD records and one platinum record. Now, what was that you said???
Ashley from Lemont Furnace, Pait sounds more alternative to me, but it touches me so much!
D from Virginia, Uruguaylove this song.
& you know what, this song is SOOO not pop.
Andrew from Evansville, InAre you kidding? This guy fronts one of the best rock groups in a long time. I think that this might be the only you've heard by them. If you check out ANY album they are amazing rock records. If you still think he doesn't have a career in Rock then come back and comment.
Hannah from Annapolis,i have no earthly idea why this guy thinks his career is in Rock n Roll because this song is so pop!!! This song doesn't have any rock aspect to it at all. it's really sad.

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